Ards 2
Armagh City 1
EAMON Scannell delivered a masterclass as Ards returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over bottom-of-the-league side Armagh City.
The skipper posted a real captain’s performance, for which he was awarded man of the match, and guided his side to a battling three points.
He dictated play from start to finish, providing the assist for Jack Reilly’s opener and stepping up with the winning goal after Ethan Doogan-Ballantine equalised for Armagh.
Ards set about finding a fast start from the first whistle, controlling the play, running their opponents ragged and searching for an early opening.
Their first chance arrived after only four minutes, when Scannell dribbled past several men and produced an excellent cross that evaded Tom Mathieson by a matter of inches.
While that opportunity had gone amiss, the home side would not have to wait long to open their account, breaking the deadlock in the ninth minute.
Again, Scannell whipped an inviting cross into the box, and this time found Reilly, who cut through the ball on the half-volley and found the top corner spectacularly.
The home captain continued to stamp his authority on the game too, finding the run of Reilly with a well-timed through ball, but the finish flashed across the face of goal.
Although Armagh eventually forced their way into proceedings, around the 20th minute, their efforts went unrewarded, with Marc Matthews making a dazzling double save to deny Gerard Storey’s free kick and the rebound of Conall Cronin.
The hosts looked the more likely to secure that all-important second goal in the closing stages of the first half, finding chances through Scannell, Reilly and Jamie Browne.
However, their tally was limited to one at the interval and City took advantage of the wasted opportunities, levelling just three minutes after the restart.
Storey’s free kick delivery was nodded down by the imposing Cronin and Doogan-Ballantine beat Matthews to the ball, applying the finishing touch.
The vast majority of the second period passed by with a distinct lack of action, as strong winds and heavy rained proved detrimental to the quality of football on show.
Ards bided their time however, patiently waiting for their chance to strike, and their second goal was certainly worth the wait.
A corner was punched away by City ‘keeper Ethan Carry, but only as far as Scannell, who hit it first time, on the bounce, and smashed into the top corner – one of the strikes of the season.
There was only one winner after that, with the visitors struggling to bounce back after going behind for the second time and Ards refusing to cede possession, holding their narrow advantage until the final whistle.
With the season coming to a close, Ards have two games remaining, travelling to face Institute this Saturday, before making the trip to Warrenpoint Town the following week.
Ards: M Matthews, C Maxwell, E Scannell (captain), G Donnelly, K Reid, E Simpson, J Browne, M Carson, J Reilly, T Mathieson, B Mullen. Subs: C Kelly, C Scannell, C Dobbin, S Gordon, R Bailie.
Armagh: E Carry (captain), K McGee, H Adair, G Storey, A Boyd, E Doogan-Ballantine, C Parker, C Cronin, A-M Dele, M Pilvinis, E Oladipupo. Subs: T Adams, N Oladunjoye, B Okaidja, A Guneyer, A Sanu
